The Robin. 



297 



being of a creamy white, with a few very small orange freckles 

 here and there. The period of incubation is from fourteen to 

 fifteen days. 



The young birds, when first hatched, are covered with yellow 

 down, like young ducks or chickens ; but when feathered they 

 appear greyish brown, the feathers being margined with dirty 

 yellow. These birds do not acquire the full red breast until 

 they are two years old ; after the first moult the breast is 

 of a pale orange colour, which becomes more intense year by 

 year, until at three years of age the bird appears in its most 

 perfect plumage. 



Methods of Capture. — The spring of the year, or autumn, 

 is the best time for capturing these birds. They may be taken 

 with limed twigs, or with the trap cage. They generally alight 

 ■on any projecting bough near the ground, a habit they 

 acquire when searching for worms ; hence, the limed twigs 

 should be placed about these projections, or on rails, stakes, or 

 stumps where they are known to frequent ; or a piece of ground 

 may be cleared of grass, and a few mealworms or earthworms 

 placed upon it, and surrounded with limed twigs. After one has 

 been caught, you may tie him, by one of his legs, to the inside of 

 a cage, and leave the door open ; his fluttering will soon attract 

 some of his confreres, who will hop, in an excited manner, a few 

 times round the cage, and ultimately rush in and commence 

 hostilities, for these birds have a deadly antipathy towards each 

 other, and fight like young tigers. As soon as the conflict has 

 fairly begun you will have no difficulty in securing your prey, 

 as, when once two Robins enter into a combat, they are so 

 thoroughly bent on their purpose that they are not easily dis- 

 turbed or frightened. Those who desire to catch these birds 

 with the ordinary trap cage should first discover a place which 

 they frequent regularly, and then place the cage on the ground, 

 as near as possible to where they are observed to sing, taking 

 care to previously turn up the earth to the extent of a couple 

 of feet of the surface soil, for these birds are most inquisitive, 

 and will soon be there in search of worms. The trap cage 

 should be baited with a few mealworms. 



Old birds, when first caught, invariably sulk, and refuse 

 the food offered them. When such is the case, obtain a 

 little fresh earth, and, having put a few live mealworms, 

 or an earthworm cut in pieces, amongst it, place it in the 



